A special meeting of the California City Council was convened Tuesday, Jan. 22, for the primary purpose of hearing the plans for Socket, the internet provider.
Speaking for Socket was Matt Kohly, director of government and carrier relations. Also present on behalf of Socket were Carson Coffman and George Pfenenger.
Socket, which began operating in 1994, is expanding its service area. According to Kohly, the company began construction on its "fiber to home" project in Callaway and Boone counties in 2011. The company plans to extend its fiber optics to the California area in two phases. The first phase will include a large portion of the city with the second phase including most of the city limits and parts of immediate outlying areas.
Currently, Socket has more than 20,000 customers in 400 Missouri cities. Currently, voice, data and internet services are offered. Video services are planned and current customers are expected to have it available by mid-2013.
Kohly said phase I in California will be completed in about 18 months, with phase II planned to be in operation by the end of 2015.
Communications personnel in attendance at the Socket presentation included John Schuster, Randy Klindt and Andy Burger - all of Co-Mo Connect - and Charles E. Roll - Century Link.
At a special council meeting on Dec. 10, a presentation was given by Co-Mo Connect on its plans to bring internet broadband, telephone and television services to the city.
In other business, the council approved an ordinance establishing pole attachment fees and requirements related to those attachments. This ordinance was considered necessary because of the interest in the fiber optics installations in the city.
A separate ordinance was approved amending the regulation of public rights-of-way in the city. The 12-page Ordinance No. 12.898 amends Chapter 510 of the City of California Code of Ordinances by adding Article V - Rights-of-Way Management.
Approval of an agreement was given to Bartlett and West, Inc. for professional services regarding the repair of the seal in the sewer plant sludge basin number 2.
It was also mentioned at the meeting that City Well No. 7 is out of commission. Bids for repair will be discussed at the next meeting.